I love being outdoors. There is something about feeling the sunlight on my skin and breathing in the fresh air that just nourishes my soul. What I love the most about being immersed in nature is that it recharges my spirit. Being around all this truly amazing scenery here on this Earth gives me perspective and reminds me that I have a purpose here. And it doesn’t matter where you live, there is beauty everywhere if you know where to look.
From as long as I can remember, I have loved chasing waterfalls. I once read that waterfalls symbolize the process of letting go, cleansing the soul and the continuous flow of life energy. To me, they are magical. When I was a kid, there was this small waterfall close to a house I visited often with my mother. And I would look forward to those trips because there was this small waterfall and swimming hole, surrounded by all these trees. And of course, to my young eyes, I felt like I was in a fairy tale. I felt like there were fairies and pixies everywhere.
One of my favorite places in our country for chasing waterfalls is the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Located just east of Portland, this place reminds of me Rivendell from Lord of the Rings. And the cool part about this area, is that there are so many roadside or short walk waterfalls along the way. There are also more strenuous hikes all along the area, too. But I love the idea that anyone with any kind of skill level can enjoy these waterfalls up-close.
Let’s take a look at two easy hikes along the Columbia River Gorge.
Shepperd’s Dell
Wahkeena Falls
If you are feeling up to it, there is a short trail to the falls that is so worth it. It’s only .2 miles, but there is some elevation gain. If you go the opposite way for .5 miles, you will get to Multnomah Falls. I love Multnomah, but it is very crowded. But here it is, it’s beautiful!
Notice all those people on the bridge! It’s just too crowded for me. If you go here, try to go off season.
But here’s the trail for Wahkeena. It’s serene and not many people were on it when we went. We maybe passed one family.
Are you ready for it?!
It was a short hike and totally worth it! There weren’t many people here and the mist on my skin was refreshing.
If you come out this way, note that sometimes there are fires in the gorge area and that some of the trails can become unsafe. Be sure to do your research and pay attention to the signs they post.
Where is your favorite waterfall?
